In this CXO Interview, Tony Uphoff speaks with Maria Roat, Former U.S. Deputy Federal CIO. The two discuss Maria’s background, the lessons she has learned throughout her career, the importance of curiosity, advice for young women and aspiring CIOs, and what Maria will be discussing during her CIO Summit presentation.
Highlights
00:12 — Tony introduces Maria and her background. Maria is a former U.S. Deputy Federal CIO and CIO for the Small Business Administration who has 10 years of experience in technology positions for the Department of Homeland Security, as well as a 25-year career in the U.S. Navy, achieving the rank of Master Chief. He asks Maria to elaborate on her background and how she became involved with technology and government.
01:16 — Maria explains how she became interested in technology. In high school, she took a computer programming class which sparked her interest in the field. She had a cousin who was 10 years her senior that worked in a “computer room” that she was able to visit which further attracted her to working with technology. At the time, colleges weren’t offering computer classes, but the military was. After graduating from high school, she enrolled in the military because she had “this interest and aptitude” for working with computers. Maria started working as an office assistant at the “GS-3 level” before she became a computer operator at the “GS-5 level.” After some time, she began climbing the ranks and moving to more senior positions.
06:39 — Tony notes that Maria is a pioneer — for what she built for herself throughout her career and for young women, as she was a woman in a leadership role during a time where “that wasn’t the majority.” He asks Maria to share the lessons she has learned from serving in the military and working in government.
07:37 — “I tell people to get comfortable being uncomfortable,” says Maria. It is okay not to know everything. Maria says that “it didn’t matter that I was a woman in the military,” since people are there to do a job. When being in the military, one must learn how “to sink or swim.” She says this is something she shares with people all the time — especially young women.
08:49 — After noticing her references to “curiosity,” Tony asks Maria to describe the role that curiosity has played during the span of her career.
09:03 — Curiosity stems from “always learning, always being on track,” notes Maria. Curiosity has sparked Maria’s constant process of learning all the time and she finds herself always asking questions. Technology is an environment that is always changing, so tech experts can never stop learning.
10:57 — What advice does Maria have for young people and women that are interested in a career in technology? Maria notes the importance for tech people to develop their soft skills, not just technical skills. Soft skills are important as they allow technology folks to translate technology into simple terms and “talk in business speak.”
12:53 — Tony asks Maria — who took a four-year break from working in government, returning shortly after 9/11 — what lessons she learned that might be applicable to business today.
13:22 — After 9/11, there were “huge cultural changes” to the Department of Homeland Security, which took over various departments and agencies that were formerly separate. She explains some of the projects she worked on while being employed by TSA, which focused on “the mission of creating a terrorist watchlist.” Various employees of different departments were now all working under the Department of Homeland Security, with the same focus — support the United States and all of its people.
17:11 — Maria Roat is a featured speaker at the CIO Summit, taking place in Scottsdale, Arizona on April 2-4. Tony asks Maria what she will be sharing with the audience. Maria will be discussing the federal government as an enterprise. She says she will focus on horizontal and vertical integrations between government and technology, as well as how cybersecurity and technology impact the federal government.
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